Today was a busy day, and after service tonight, I ended up taking Bekah and David out to McDonald's (Cindi had to bowl). But I told them before we went that we weren't ordering a bunch of food. Each of us got:A cheeseburger
A small fries
A small shake
That's it. They protested at first, but we ate slowly and talked. And you know what? We walked away satisfied, just not stuffed. And I remembered that this is how much we ALWAYS used to eat at McDonald's back in the old days when I was a youngster. And it was sufficient.
I was reminded of the words of St. John Cassian: "They (the holy fathers) have not given us one single rule for fasting or a single standard and measure for eating, because not everyone has the same strength; age, illness, or delicacy of body create differences. But they have given us all a single goal: avoid over-eating and filling of our bellies." (On the Eight Vices)
I've decided that this is the way to go: forget the supersizing of everything under the sun! I hope I can convince the family that a little treat with thankfulness to God and walking away from the table without the belly-ache is most definitely worth it. : )
4 comments:
Pastor Weedon,
Greetings this Sunday. I was just reading your Mac BLOG while I was eating my Sunday Macaroni with GRAVY. I think your John Cassian comment is well said. Please, please, please keep the "Genus Maiestaticum..." going. For me this is the "real" issue. I like what you wrote that you've learned. Maybe they taught that in the sem. you went to but you weren't ready for it? I don't know I'm only asking a question? Believe me I can relate to "illumination". Holy Ghost style. Also did you read the new “issues etc” issue on the Greek Orth. who came into Lutheranism? Wow, what a great article, I thought.
Am I suppose to answer that tag on your BLOG? If so it's a lot of typing.
Salvatore
“Let me say here that fasting is not an evil; it is a good work. Nevertheless, it is not the resurrection and the life. Fasting may be a good work incumbent on me, but it is not something that is in heaven or something that descended from heaven; much less will it lead and take us to heaven.”-Martin Luther
Luther, M. 1999, c1957. Luther's works, vol. 22 : Sermons on the Gospel of St. John: Chapters 1-4 (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.). Luther's Works. Vol. 22 (Jn 3:16). Concordia Publishing House: Saint Louis
cheeseburgers in Lent?! or at any time of year? You can do better:)
Paul in TN
Now what did Cassian say about milkshakes?
Just kidding. Good point. I'm sometimes surprised at how little food it actually takes to satisfy me, when I give myself the chance to find out.
LOL, Paul and Eric. Hey, fasting is relative, you know; for US that WAS a fast!!! Lord, have mercy. According to Western tradition, the fast is observed by eating LESS and abstaining from meat on Fridays. And it wasn't a Friday but a Saturday that we ate the cheeseburgers. ;)
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